The world of business is undergoing radical transformation. With the explosion
of technology, a new world economy, and a mass exodus of talent from employment
to entrepreneurship, the rules and tools of business have dramatically changed,
making leadership an expedition into uncharted and often choppy waters. It is
now more than ever the survival of the fittest.
Fortunately, there is one ageless faculty
a CEO and every leader can draw
on in such an unpredictable era
to guide him or her to successful
business leadership and success
... intuition.
Some call it “instinct.” Others
know it as the “gut feeling,” or a
“hunch.” Emerson called it “the
divine impulse.” I call it “vibes.”
Whatever you call it, we all recognize
it as the deep, bone-marrow kind of
knowing that transcends reason and
logic, defies understanding, and yet
undeniably points us in the right
direction when all else fails.
Most CEOs know what intuition is
and have experienced it. They agree
that it is an invaluable tool for success
in the modern world. But few know
how it works, and fewer still know
there are things you can do to activate
and accelerate it to work when you
need it.
For starters, intuition works best off a
solid foundation of knowledge. How
knowledgeable are you of your business?
As the leader in your organization,
how well-informed are you of
your company's affairs? And by
informed, I do not mean simply having
an awareness of paper facts. Real
knowledge is far more than information;
it's derived from having direct
experience with your employees and
clients in the trenches. When did you
last visit the engine rooms of your company,
or observed the day-to-day world
of your managers and workers? Do you
even know who your workers are and
how they are performing? Are you
keeping your knowledge of the company
current and sharp by refreshing your
direct experience on a regular basis?
Secondly, intuition is driven by
enthusiasm. It is a byproduct of an
intense desire to make what you care
about even better. Are you passionate
about your business? Or has your
focus deteriorated to just meeting the
bottom line? If you've lost a genuine
love for your job, then intuition will be
overcome by cynicism and fear,
causing your company to lead
you, rather than you leading the
company.
Next, intuition requires a clear and organized mind. It is a subtle and fleeting
insight that can be easily lost under a mountain of unfinished business, or
swept away in the drama of disorder. Is it time to catch up with old matters,
finish unfinished business, and clear your desk? The more you procrastinate,
the greater your loss when it comes to tapping into your intuitive reserves.
Finally, intuition is your sixth sense
and it's as physical as your five senses.
Your intuition depends on your physical
body to relay messages as if it were
a radio broadcasting to your mind
through your gut feelings. This means
that if you are hung over, stressed out,
under-exercised, sleep-deprived, overscheduled,
and preoccupied, chances
are you will miss the subtle calling
cards of your intuition. You can only
pick up the intuitive broadcast if the a
radio (your body) is working.
Intuition also slips into our awareness
when our mind has quiet
moments. If you rush through each
day like a firefighter on a drill you will
feel very little of anything, let alone
the subtle vibrations coming from your
intuitive channel. To discern the subtle
takes time. Slow down; give yourself
a break. Some of the greatest
inventions and visions were born in a
moment of doing nothing. Doing nothing
doesn't mean nothing is being
done. On the contrary, giving yourself
a little breathing space allows your
higher awareness to kick in and offer
its input.
To activate your intuition, you must
calm your other senses as well.
Delegate. Meditate. Talk a walk. Do
whatever it takes to eliminate distractions
and create a window of intuitive
opportunity. Conrad Hilton used to sit
quietly until intuition kicked in.
Benjamin Franklin flew a kite. Isaac
Newton meditated under an apple
tree. Find your quiet corner for inspiration.
Expect intuition to show up.
And it will!
The dictionary defines intuition as
“immediate cognition,” which requires
a paying of acute attention. Get into the
habit of listening to your intuition —
your “inner teacher” — and expecting
it to guide you. When you expect
something, you create an energetic vacuum
that the Universe seeks to fill. A
case in point is two guys driving into
town; one expects to find a parking
space, the other doesn't. They both
turn out right.
Intuition works off the creative part
of your brain. Mix your routines up a
bit to keep your attention fresh and to
avoid falling into a mental rut. Take a
new route to work. Enter through a different
door. Wear a color you don't
normally wear. Cut lunchtime in half
and take a walk.
Intuitive people don't dwell on
problems. They ponder offbeat solutions
and expect to find them. In fact,
they consider this a creative sport
and love playing it. They work their
intuitive muscles to enter a superconscious
state of mind.
Above all, have the courage to follow
your intuition. Every great leader
has been willing to play the fool.
Disney was considered a nut. The
Wright brothers were called daft.
Edison was “eccentric,” at best.
Progressive thinkers have always challenged
conventional wisdom as they
blazed a trail to the top.
Here are 10 things you can do to
activate your intuition in your business
world.
1. Write down your professional
goals. Intuition supports clear intentions.
Keep your goals clearly posted
and review them every day.
2. Visualize your success. Imagine
exactly what you want to happen in
your business. Intuition supports your
vision. Sharpen your visualization
skills by sharing your vision with others
and observe if they can see your
dreams as well as you.
3. Get enough sleep. Intuition shuts
down when you are fatigued.
4. Keep a little notebook or tape
recorder and record your gut feelings,
ah-ha moments, and bright ideas as they
arise. Do not edit, censor, or dismiss
anything. You will soon see it all counts.
5. Sound it out. Find sympathetic
friends who will listen to your intuitive
hunches. Sharing a gut feeling is
the best way to validate your intuition
and gain confidence in listening to
your higher awareness.
6. Take time out for reflection.
Intuition lies just beneath our conscious
awareness and rises to the surface
during quiet moments. Rushing
through the day prevents your inner
voice from speaking out. Schedule regular
periods of five to 10 minutes
throughout the week to do nothing but
sit and ponder.
7. Leave the job at your desk.
Sometimes the best way to activate
your intuitive and creative muscles is
to walk away from a problem and let
the answers incubate on their own. Do
something stimulating and fun on
your evenings and weekends.
Allowing this side of your brain to
take over while giving your work side
a rest brings new perspectives and
ideas that can take you to a new level
of solution.
8. Ask for help. Have the wisdom to
be open to receiving help in all ways,
and do not hesitate to seek guidance
the minute you need it. Being open to
guidance is the starting gun to an intuitive
life and separates the ordinary
from the extraordinary in today's
working world.
9. Keep your office clean and organized.
Intuition thrives on order, not
chaos. A clear desk leaves the clear
mind needed for tuning into your vibes.
10. Acknowledge your intuitive successes
openly and comfortably. Share
your vibes positively, regarding them
as a natural asset designed to help you
succeed and not as something to wrestle
with or question. Recognize that
they are a reflection of your higher abilities,
and put them to use every day.
The bottom line is if you want to
succeed in a changing world of business
and have a great time along the
way, utilize and trust to the fullest,
your greatest natural business tool —
your vibes.
Sonia Choquette, Ph.D., is a bestselling
author and has been a guest on
ABC, NBC, CNN, and WGN. She has
also been featured in USA Today,
Chicago Tribune, and Crain's Chicago
Business Journal.
